What is happening to the world;

Right first of all I must say I am law abiding and not at all threatening, I am 5ft3ish chubby and was 40 on Tuesday of this week the 10.6. But this is what happened tonight.

Walking the pup Sal (stafford almost 7 months) in the local park, I had driven there because we were going to our first show tonight an open evening show in Solihull. I was just letting her burn of excess Staffy energy first (some hope I know)

I had just put Sal in the car when I saw a lady I have seen a couple of times running toward the car park I just thought it odd. Then she saw me we were parallel to each other but a good distance apart. Sal was in the car by now (thank god) and the woman was shouting something.But being the diatance I was I couldn't hear the trees blocked my view of the rest of the car park from my angle. Then I heard her shout "he's got my dog stop him" and at that moment I saw a man running toward a car carrying a Rotweiller puppy in his arms.

In the car he was running toward were another man and a woman, I locked my car with Sal inside with the remote therefore imobilising it and alarming it.

Then I started to run toward the man from the opposite direction, a man who walks his two old German sheps had also seen and heard and ran toward the man as well as an elderly lady who walks her two labs, we all converged at the same moment along with two young men who were both quite handy it turned out (thank god) who were walking a dalmation. The man carrying the pup panicked and tried a short cut but thankfully the car driver didn't realise. Carrying the pup he ran into the two young men and they stopped him and removed the puppy the ice cream man then cut off the cars exit parking across him (I can't explain it better) but the car driver got out to help his friend but by then the man with the german sheps arrived and all these years I have walked with him I thought his dogs were soft and docile. Never have I been so so very WRONG he put his dogs into "hold the man mode" and I tell you I would challenge anyone to move. The lady was crying and holding the pup he'd about 5/6 months and a big pup. The elderly lady with the labs phoned for the police. The woman got out of the car and launched herself at the elderly lady with the labs unprovoked completly she tried to grab the phone ( a last ditch attempt I think) but she hit the lady before any of us could move and I am Sorry to say I turned around and decked her. Flat out, Lord knows where that came from.

The police came and took statements etc and took away the two men and called an ambulance for the woman.

I have not been charged but it depends if she presses charges it seems.

THIS IS THE SCARY PART

It seems the man enticed the pup with a squeaky toy the same as the lady uses to encourage him back and she was talking to the man the week before telling him the pups name etc. a PROUD OWNER like all of us, but it scared my stupid. Can't you talk to anyone now without this fear.

Will let you know how it goes.

Oh the two young men walking the Dalmation are on leave from the Royal Marines and the dog belongs to the one lads mom who normally walks him but they took him tonight before they went out on the town (Thank God it wasn't the normal lady without the two lads I doubt we would have managed to stop them)

But the police called us the A team. And said it would be a brave thief who tried anything on with dog walkers in this park, as he said we even have mobile backup; albeit in the form of an ice cream van. I think he was trying to jolly the lady with the rotti along.

Karen (with bruised knuckles)

PS didn't get to the show too shook up.

What stars you all are!! I just don't understand some people, it was certainly that lady's lucky Friday 13th in the end.

Well done for knocking the woman out and I hope that nothing comes of it for you.

Take care and I hope that you're feeling better now.

Well done, all of you. What a scary thing. But great teamwork!
Hope it all turns out alright for you.
:)

Fantastic well done. It makes me sick to my stomach that there are people who want to steal dogs, I hope her face really hurts, they should lock them up and throw away the key.

Well done ! It was lucky that there were so many people to hand !

Lucy

Blimey...sounds like the Keystone Cops!!! well done...I think i would kill someone who tried to steal any of mine....take the consequences later!

Congratulations on stopping this theft - Dog Stealing is very common in South Wales - I'm positive this is feeding the Puppy Farming industry - another very good reason to get behind the campaign - please do go to the active thread if you haven't already - this problem will only get worse unless something is done about it now.

Congratulations karen, and well done she deserved to be knocked out.
What a team!
julie

Well Karen all I can say is "Go Girl!!!"
Well done to all of you, I hope you all exchanged numbers as what a team you make!
Hope the two Allis got rewarded with a couple of steaks too :-)

You all deserve a medal!!!I bet the puppy owner was relieved,what a scary thing to happen.There are some nasty people about and I supose we shouldn't be surprised when they see our dogs with £ signs in their eyes!!
Hazel

Good grief Karen, well done! You're all complete heros!

Jo :)

Wow Karen - what a hero!

Can I ask what park it was in? I take Dylan to a few parks in Solihull. I'll have to watch him even more closely from now on. :(

Thanks,

Sarah

well done karen---im sure you only acted in self defense :rolleyes: -very well done :D

Well done to you all-what heros!!
Its frightening isn't it.If someone asks about my dogs I'm always very cagey and tell them nothing apart from that how 'unpredictable' they are with strangers even though they're all pussy cats really.Its so sad that you can't be 'loud and proud' about our beatiful pets for fear of loosing them.
Archer.

well done all of you! It certainly makes me consider taking some kind of alarm, spray etc , to draw attention. If people quiz me about my affie, I lie and tell them she has a defect and is NOT show quality

Somebody would have to be plain stupid or have a death wish to try and nick my Affie :) It would be interesting to know what park it was though if it's local to me. I try not to use the parks in solihull and prefer going up to the riding club to walk in their fields. I prefer it as you only ever meet other dogs owners when you do meet someone and the dogs can have a good run without fear of small children be knocked over or scared. Last time a small child saw my Afghan it screamed for England that there was a lion around :D

Bloody hell Karen
hope you are ok - you must have been shaking like a leaf afterwards !!
Isnt it scarey though that you have to keep your eye on everyone around you as well as other dogs ?
I keep Gus close by at all times even when off the lead but Staffys are just so friendly . If someone were to call them they would go bounding over to them .
Makes me frightened to take him out on my own :(
Well done anyway - you should be proud of yourself !!!!! :)
They deserved everything they got .
Lel

Ka send the story into the Dog Papers, Brilliant, the fact that they got caught and arrested, as mostly they get away with it!

Editorial Dept. Dogworld
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I'll second that!! I think it's a fantastic story and tells what can happen when people are willing to get involved!

Wendy

Excellent :) :) and all down to team work too by the sound of things. Thank heavens people were prepared to get involved... Good for you!
Is it true Karen that you're taking on Mike Tyson in the autumn? my money's on you!! :D :D

liberty

Thanks very much everyone, for your best wishes.

I spoke to the lady who's pup it was by phone last night, she's much to shaken up and it has really scared her the pup is fine (thought it was all great fun) she doesn't want anything in the press she said the police suggested it, saying to contact the local radio and she said no because the other week when she was speaking to the man he walked her to her car and and is convinced he has her reg number and she she can't recall if she said anything that gives her away. I can't blame her for that, she is just pleased to still have the pup. But terribly scared still and shaken I have discovered she is 63 so no youngster, but I told her the speed she was running she should enter for the next olympics :)

She has bruised all her legs and arms from where she fell over trying to catch the man.

Regards Karen.

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